Annie Pants-y

Ah, April fools day, always good for a laugh or two. I've probably mentioned a few times on here that I'm a total orch-dork (orchestra dork, for those of you who don't speak my language.) It just so happens this year April fools day fell on a Tuesday, one of the days we have rehearsal. This year we had two great plans made (and by plan, I mean we thought of it an hour before and facebook-ed everyone, what that doesn't count as thinking ahead?). As people trickle in to orchestra, five or ten minutes late as always, we spread the news to those who hadn't read their facebooks.  "Time to start!"  Our conductor rounds up the rest of the latecomers, and then wandering off to who knows where for a few minutes.  We take our seats while he's gone—on the opposite side of the room.  Okay, pretty basic trick, but it was pretty amusing.  Second violins and firsts switched, violas and cellos.  When our  conductor reentered the room he was so disoriented.  As we were  playing cues were flying right and left—to the wrong sides and then back —until he made us switch back.  Oh well.  The fun was not yet over.   

Break comes around.  Annie is eying Stephanie's pants.  They're baggy sweatpants the kind that are perfect for pantsing people.   Despite a few joking tugs at her pants, Steph manages to hold on to her dignity.  After break is where the real fun starts—Annie, Anna and my masterpiece.  Our conductor instructs us to get out the Saint Saëns and start at measure 139.  Is that one before 140?  One first violin asks, though none of us were planning to actually play it.   I try not to giggle in anticipation.  Our conductor does not expect anything, having thought we were done with our April foolsery with our first prank, an hour ago.  He starts conducting and we play the first note—to the can can!  In perfect unison the violins, cellos, violas and winds play the first four measures of the can can as our conductor does a double take.  Not was he was expecting!  He pauses.  "That was...the most coordinated I've ever heard you play."  He says.  We laugh.  Ah.  Orch dorks, the lot of us.  

But the night has yet another unexpected twist.  As orchestra is over a hour or so later, Steph, Annie, Anna and I sit around conversing.  Annie, one last attempt, grabs Steph's pants, tugging them down.  Down went the sweatpants revealing lime green underwear.  We crack up.  Steph hurriedly pulls up her pants, this time tying the strings.  "ANNIE!"  Annie laughs.  "I didn't think it would actually work!"

Sachi